Messengers of God Give Good News, Warnings; People Choose Based on Their Free Will
This according to Hojat-ol-Islam Mohammad Soroush Mahalati speaking in a forum about Imam Hussein’s (AS) movement and humans’ free will. Excerpts from his speech at the forum are as follows:
One of the issues about the movement of Karbala that needs to be reflected is that Imam Hussein (AS) knew the army of the enemy significantly outnumbered his companions, but he gave the choice to the companions to stay with him to fight the enemy or leave they want.
The Imam (AS) once gave the option to the companions after the martyrdom of Muslem ibn Aqil and once on the night before Ashura when it was certain that all of them would be martyred the next day.
Even on the Day of Ashura some of the companions sought permission to leave and not fight and Imam (AS) allowed them to go.
This issue, namely giving them the choice to remain to fight or leave and save their life, means respecting the freedom to choose even in such a precarious situation. Islam has always recognized the freedom to choose even though the choice may not be the right one.
There are many verses in the Quran that signify the fact that mankind has free will and can choose his path. That is to say, the role of prophets in guidance is just showing the path. Their mission ends there and it is then up to every human being to accept the message to reject it.
In his Al-Mizan Quran Exegesis, the late Allameh Tabatabaei has discussed the Imamate of Prophet Abraham (AS), saying that here it is not social or political leadership but it is a spiritual bond and that a man who moves on the path of God is led by Imam and Imam leads him to where he should go. So this is a spiritual leadership and has nothing to do with the means of power.
Verse 19 of Surah Al-Muzzammil says: “This is indeed a Reminder. Let whosoever will take the Path to his Lord.” It means everyone has the free will and can follow the right path or not.
There is emphasis on this issue in other verses as well, including verses 27 and 28 of Surah At-Takwir, “This is certainly the guidance for all (jinn and mankind). So let those who want, choose the right guidance,” verse 57 of Surah Al-Furqan, “Tell them, ‘I ask no recompense for my preaching to you, except the fact that whoever wants should choose the way of God,” verse 86 of Surah Saad “Say (Prophet Muhammad): ‘For this I ask of you no wage, and I am not of those who take things upon themselves,’” and verse 39 of Surah An-Naba, “That is the Day, the truth, so whosoever wills takes a way to his Lord.”
Speaking about verse 57 of Surah Al-Furqan, Allameh Tabatabaei says God has given the choice to everyone to select the path of God or another path and there is no compulsion. This verse shows that prophets only convey the message of God and have no other responsibilities.
What the prophets do is give good news and warning and invite people to the right path. There is no compulsion as people have free will to choose what path they want to take. If a nation does not choose the right path then God will decide whether to punish them in this world or the next.
Allameh Tabatabei emphasizes the free will of human beings again in interpreting verse 3 of Surah Al-Insan: “ Indeed, We have guided him to the path, he is either grateful or ungrateful.”
